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Paterson, New Jersey, circa 1911. "American Locomotive Co. Rogers Works. 0-4-0 locomotive for New Jersey Zinc Co." 8x10 inch glass negative. View full size.
This is not a fireless locomotive. It's one of a type of small locomotives that were typically called "Contractor" locomotives due to their size. Rogers was known for producing these small locomotives, with most of them being coal fired, while a few were oil fired. This one is most likely the former.
This may be a fireless steam locomotive and not a saddle tank. They were often used as industrial switchers, especially at armament factories.
Let the thing with the majesty and beauty of the steam locomotive to get away, and focus on the image.
There is an interesting locomotive with a lot of interesting details.
The compact design reminds us that there is a locomotive for use under technical equipment (loading bridges etc.). Steam Locomotives for the real underground use are rather unsuitable (What to do with all the smoke?).
Also interesting is the artifices which had to apply the designers to go from the low-lying frame back to the standard coupling height.
The generously dimensioned buffer beams indicate that the track position in the field of application would not likely to have been the most amazing (In the event of a derailment preventing such buffer beams that the wheels of the locomotive firmly dig in the mud).
Further interesting the saddle tank - a feature that was actually more common in England. The equipment with external engine and internal control is also not been so common in North America at the time.
The nameplate on the smoke chamber support is another unusual detail - but was on the smoke chamber (the normal place for this plate on north american locos) just not a place because of the saddle tank, so they just have shifted the nameplate down slightly (in Europe, especially in Germany were nameplates on the cylinders usual).
The cover of the cab with (Yes what, anyway? Fabric? Tar paper?) Is another detail that you as looks more on wagons to locomotives.
And the lack of side doors finally point out that the locomotive may have been coupled in everyday life with any Tender well - another meaningful reason for a single wide opening in the rear wall of the cab will not occur to me.
to the right mid picture behind the large post. Took a while
The Rogers Works produced nearly 6,200 locomotives starting in 1837, and in late 19th century was the second largest locomotive builder in the US. Besides the pocket size industrial locomotive shown here they built surprisingly large main-line locomotives as well, and were known for quality and innovation.
Surprisingly, the plant had no direct rail connections, and all incoming materials and outbound finished locomotives were hauled by horse-drawn wagons several blocks on the streets of Paterson to the nearest rails!
The plant closed in 1913.
BTW, did you spot the photobomber?
A subsidiary of New Jersey Zinc, Empire Zinc of New Mexico, was the subject of the 1954 movie "Salt of the Earth," based on the Bayard, N.M., miners' strike.
... when people speak of the majesty and beauty of the great steam engines?
This is not one of those times.
Order one here!
Their zinc smelting operation deforested a long section east of town that has been the site of a Superfund reclamation project. Hike east from Palmerton along the Appalachian Trail and you'd swear that you were on Mars.
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